Strip dispenser



y 7, 1968 E. w. FERRIS ETAL 3,381,853

STRIP DISPENSER F'iled Nov. 22, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig-2 INVENTORS EDMUND W. FERRIS RONALD A. MABRY ATTORNEY y 7, 1 5 E. w. FERRIS ETAL 3,381,853

STRIP DISPENSER Filed Nov. 22, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS EDMUND W. FERRIS RONALD A MABRY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,381,853 STRIP DISPENSER Edmund W. Ferris, Simsbury, Conn., and Ronald A. Mabry, Athens, Ohio, assignors to Litton Business Systems, Inc., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 596,329 3 Claims. (Cl. 22163) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A small plastic container for holding and dispensing error correction strips or tape used by typists to obliterate typing errors, the container being so constructed and arranged that it also may be used as a toy decision maker when it is inverted and rocked upon its arcuate top surface through which the error correcting strips are dispensed.

This invention relates to a strip dispenser; more particularly it relates to a strip dispenser constructed and arranged to serve as a package for and to facilitate removal therefrom of error correcting tapes or strips now commonly used by typists to obliterate typing errors.

Convenient use of error correcting paper depends more or less upon the manner in which such paper is packaged.

One object of the present invention is to provide a very simple, low cost dispenser for error correcting tapes or strips.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which facilitates easy removal of the error correcting strips, one at a time, by a wiping action between the thumb and forefinger when the dispenser is resting on its bottom or fiat side.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser, the construction of which permits easy and quick refilling or reloading of the error correcting strips into the dispenser.

A further object of the invention is to provide an error correcting strip dispenser which also serves as a toy decision maker when the dispenser is inverted and tipped out of balance to rock to and fro on its arcuate top surface so as to cause a ball, within the dispenser, to oscillate longitudinally therein and finally settle into one of a plurality of depressions formed in the dispenser when rocking motion of the dispenser ceases.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a paper strip or tape dispenser, the component parts of which may be detentably connected to one another during assembly without the need or use of any extraneous fastening means such as bolts, screws, adhesive material or the like.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals and characters designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a three-quarter perspective view of a dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric detailed view partly in section illustrating the hollow dispenser shell or casing;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the arcuate insert member or element of the dispenser;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the flat base or bottom of the dispenser;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the arcuate insert member of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1 with the insert projections broken away to show the small openings in the casing; and

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing the dispenser inverted and resting on its arcuate top surface.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed explanation of the invention, the new and novel dispenser indicated generally by reference character A (FIGURE 1) may be considered as comprising three major molded plastic components or elements, namely, the enclosure or hollow shel-like casing B (FIGURE 2), an arcuate insert C (FIGURE 3) and a base or bottom member D (FIGURE 4).

By reference to FIGURES 2, 6 and 7, it will be observed that the hollow shell-like casing B comprises spaced parallel side wall sections 13 and 14, defined in area by curved top edges 13a and 14a respectively and straight bottom edges 13b and 141) respectively. The side wall sections 13 and 14 are integrally joined and spaced from one another along their curved edges 13a and 14a by an arcuate top wall section 15 provided with a relatively large and centrally disposed elongated opening 19 to provide access to error correcting tape or strips 16 loaded in the enclosure as will hereinafter appear, and with relatively smaller rectangular openings 20 and 21 located adjacent each end of the top section adapted to position the insert C which defines the bottom of a strip retaining chamber or pocket 26.

Viewed from the open bottom, the enclosure is also integrally formed with flat transverse cross pieces defining with the ends of the arcuate top wall section transverse lips 22, which lips detentably engage the ends of said bottom member D to removably hold the three component elements of the dispenser in assembled relation relative to one another in a manner presently described.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 5, insert C is shown as comprising an arcuately shaped strip 23 the ends of which are offset upwardly to form projections 24 and 25 respectively. The width of strip 23 is slightly less than the distance between the inner surfaces of Walls 13 and 14 and the projections 2425 are dimensioned to snugly fit within the small rectangular openings 20 and 21 respectively, with the shoulders 17 formed by the offset projection abutting the edges 18 of openings 20-21 when insert C is mounted within casing B as clearly shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. It will be further observed that when the projections 2425 are inserted into the small rectangula-r openings 2041 respectively, the outer curved surfaces 24a and 25a of said projections are substantially flush with the outer curved surface of top wall section 15' and that the radius of the arc defining curved edges Era-14a of walls 13 and 14 respectively, thereby providing the above mentioned arcuate strip retaining chamber or pocket 26 between the convex surface of said strip 23 and the inner concave surface of the arcuate top wall section 15 for the reception of a plurality or stack of error correcting strips 16 as best shown in FIGURE 6.

The inner or concave surface of strip 23 comprising insert C (as viewed in FIGURE 7) is provided with a substantially flat center portion 27 having a pair of longitudinally spaced ball receiving depressions 28 and 29 formed therein. As shown in FIGURE 5, indicia, such as the word YES or other symbol such as a plus sign (not shown), is preferably placed adjacent the ball depression 28. Similarly, indicia, such as the word NO or a minus symbol, may be placed adjacent the ball depression 29 to enable the dispenser A to be used as a decision maker in a manner later explained.

Turning now to FIGURE 4, it will be observed that the base or bottom member D comprises a flat rectangular 3 plate 30, the four corners of which are cut away to form notches 31.

Two spaced parallel walls 32 extend upwardly from plate 30 and are attached to or preferably formed integral with said plate to provide a longitudinal ball channel 33 defining with underside of strip 23 a runway for a ball 34. It will be noted that the channel is in longitudinal alignment with ball depressions 28-29. The radius of the exposed curved edges 35 of walls 32 is less than the radius of arcuate wall 23 or insert C, but great enough to confine or trap ball 34 within said channel 33 regardless of how the dispenser is held or placed on a supporting surface.

It is essential that plate 30 and walls 32 of the base or bottom member D be constructed of transparent ma terial, preferably plastic material, so that the indicia on the center portion 27 may be clearly observed as well as the movement of ball 34 and the depression into which it finally settles when rocking of the dispenser stops.

Assembly of the three major parts or components of dispenser A is a very simple and easy operation. With the hollow shell-like casing B resting on its arcuate surface 15, as illustrated in FIGURE 7, insert C is held with its projections 24-25 so as to face the open end of easing B. The insert is then lowered into the casing until said projections enter and seat within the openings 2021 respectively. Ball 34 is then placed in one of the depressions 2829. Base or bottom member D is now held with its walls 32 facing the insert C and the left hand end of plate 30 is then placed over the left hand end of insert C and beneath the left hand lip 22 of easing B. The right hand end of plate 30 is now pressed downwardly to force the right hand lip 22 outwardly allowing the plate to snap past the lip and into holding engagement with the right hand end of insert C and beneath said right hand lip 22. Ball 34 is now trapped within channel 33 defined by the spaced parallel walls 32.

A plurality of error correcting tapes or strips 16 are then inserted or tucked into the pocket 26 through the large opening 19 and the device is now ready for use as a dispenser for error correcting strips or as a toy decision maker.

When the device is used for dispensing error correcting strips, one at a time, dispenser A is placed on its flat side as shown in FIGURE 6. The top strip 16a of the pack of error correcting strips 16 may now be readily and conveniently removed by a simple wiping action between the thumb 37 and forefinger 38, such fingers being indicated by broken lines in FIGURE 6, thus simultaneously withdrawing the ends of top strip 16a from pocket 26.

Assuming now that it is desired to use the device as a toy decision maker. Dispenser A is simply inverted and placed on its arcuate surface as shown in FIGURE 7. In this position the base or bottom plate 30, ball 34, channel 33 and the indicia such as the words YES and NO are then clearly visible. After asking himself a question, a player merely presses his finger downwardly on one end of the device to tip it out of balance, and then removes his finger. The device will then rock to and fro upon its arcuate side or surface 15, causing ball 34 to oscillate within the channel formed runway back and forth across the flat portion 27. As the rocking motion of the device gradually slows down, the ball will finally settle in either depression 28 or depression 29, representing YES and NO answers, just before the rocking ceases, and the device again becomes balanced at a point midway its arcuate surface.

When the component parts of the dispenser are initially assembled, in the manner above described, a stack or bundle of error correcting strips 16 may be placed upon the arcuately shaped strip 23 of insert C. Reloading of strips into the dispenser may be readily and conveniently accomplished without disassembling the dispenser by merely tucking them into pocket or chamber 26 through the large opening 19 in the arcuate top wall section 15. However, should it ever become desirable to disassemble the dispenser, this may be accomplished by inserting any point- 4 ed article, such as a nail file, knife blade or the like, into one of the notches 31 of plate 30 and then prying one end of the plate upwardly to force its associated lip 22 outwardly to release the plate thus allowing the base D and insert C to be readily removed from the shell-like casing B.

It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. A dispenser toy comprising the combination of a hollow shell-like enclosure defined by an arcuate top wall section having a centrally disposed elongated opening therein, spaced side wall sections, and a flat bottom section, the ends of said top and bottom sections respectively being detentably connected and said spaced side wall sections being secured to the longitudinal edges of said arcuate top wall section,

an arcuate insert adapted when mounted within said enclosure to define an elongated strip receiving pocket between said arcuate top wall section and said arcuate insert,

error correcting strips mounted within said pocket and adapted to be withdrawn through said opening in said arcuate top wall section by wiping action between thumb and forefinger when said enclosure is resting on its flat bottom, said enclosure when resting on its arcuate top wall section being adapted to rock to and fro when tipped out of balance, said arcuate insert having a relatively flat center portion facing said flat bottom section, said fiat center portion having at least two ball receiving depressions,

and a ball within said enclosure disposed between said insert and bottom sections adapted to settle into one of said ball receiving depressions when said enclosure is at rest and to oscillate between the ends of said enclosure when the latter is rocked on its arcuate top section.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a combined dispenser for error correcting strips and a toy decision maker comprising the combination of:

a hollow shell-like enclosure comprising an arcuate top wall provided with three longitudinally aligned openings,

spaced parallel side walls attached to and extending from said arcuate top wall, said top and side walls defining an open bottom for said enclosure,

detent means formed at the ends of said arcuate top wall comprising a pair of transverse lips,

an elongated arcuate insert,

a projection formed at each end of said insert, said projections adapted to fit into the outer two of said three openings when the insert is placed within said hollow enclosure, said projections being dimensioned to provide an internal space or pocket between said arcuate insert and arcuate top wall,

a relatively flat center portion on the underside of said insert, said fiat center portion having at least two longitudinally aligned ball receiving depressions formed therein,

a flat base or bottom member having a pair of spaced longitudinally disposed parallel walls defining a ball runway,

a ball mounted to oscillate within said runway when said enclosure is rocked to and fro upon its arcuate top wall and to settle into one of said ball receiving depressions when the rocking of said enclosure ceases,

and a plurality or stack of error correcting strips disposed within said pocket and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom, one at a time through the third or center opening in said arcuate top wall, by a wiping action between the thumb and forefinger when said enclosure is resting on its fiat bottom or base.

3. A dispenser for error correcting strips comprising an enclosure defined by a flat bottom section of transparent plastic, an arcuate top section having an elongated opening therein and depending side walls secured to the longitudinal edges of said arcuate top section,

a second arcuate element adapted when mounted within said enclosure to define an arc of smaller radius than the arc of said top section,

error correcting strips mounted between said second arcuate element and said arcuate top section whereby said error correcting strips may be removed one at a time through said opening in said arcuate top section by a wiping action between the thumb and forefinger when said enclosure is resting on its flat bottom section,

a pair of spaced parallel walls integrally formed on the inner surface of said flat bottom section to thereby form a ball runway which extends lengthwise of said enclosure,

a relatively flat center portion on the inner surface of said arcuate element,

said fiat center portion having at least two ball receiving depressions therein, and a ball adapted to oscillate within said runway when said enclosure is tipped out of balance to rock to and fro upon its arcuate top section and to settle into one of said depressions when said enclosure comes to rest after being rocked.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,500,110 7/1924 Culp 273145.3 1,765,019 6/1930 Maxwell 273-109 X 2,464,426 3/1949 Williams 22l-61 X 2,592,255 4/1952 Drees 22158 STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner. 

